Updated 2 July 2019
We undertook a focused inspection of Reece Associates LLP on 20 May 2019. This inspection was carried out to review in detail the actions taken by the registered provider to improve the quality of care and to confirm that the practice was now meeting legal requirements.
The inspection was led by a CQC inspector who was supported by a second CQC inspector.
We undertook a comprehensive inspection of Reece Associates LLP on 30 October 2018 under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. We found the registered provider was not providing safe or well led care and was in breach of regulations 12 and 17 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. You can read our report of that inspection by selecting the 'all reports' link for Reece Associates LLP on our website www.cqc.org.uk.
As part of this inspection we asked:
• Is it safe?
• Is it well-led?
When one or more of the five questions are not met we require the service to make improvements and send us an action plan. We then inspect again after a reasonable interval, focusing on the areas where improvement was required.
Our findings were:
Are services safe?
We found this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
The provider had made improvements in relation to the regulatory breach we found at our inspection on 30 October 2018.
Are services well-led?
We found this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
The provider had made improvements in relation to the regulatory breach we found at our inspection on 30 October 2018.
Background
Reece Associates LLP is in Sutton Coldfield and provides NHS and private treatment to adults and children.
There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces are available outside the practice but there are no dedicated car parking spaces for patients who are blue badge holders.
The dental team includes four dentists, eight dental nurses (two of whom are trainees), four dental hygienists, one dental hygiene therapist, two practice managers, one decontamination assistant and one receptionist. The dental nurses also carry out reception duties. There is also a visiting sedationist who provides sedation services for patients when needed. The practice has six treatment rooms. There was a separate decontamination room which was due to undergo refurbishment shortly.
The practice is owned by a company and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the Care Quality Commission as the registered manager. Registered managers have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run. The registered manager at Reece Associates LLP is the practice manager.
During the inspection we spoke with one dentist, three dental nurses, one receptionist and the practice manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open:
Monday to Wednesday 8.30am - 5.30pm
Thursday 10.00am - 8.00pm
Friday 9.00am - 2.30pm
The practice is also open one Saturday per month between 9am and 1pm.
Our key findings were:
Staff had made many improvements to address the shortfalls that we identified during our inspection on 30 October 2018. These included:
- Improvements in the practice’s recruitment procedures, staff training and immunisation records.
- The storage and dispensing of medicines was in line with current guidance.
- Recommended equipment maintenance checks and risk assessments had been completed.
- Recommended audits were completed and at appropriate intervals.
However, there were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Review the practice's Legionella risk assessment and implement any recommended actions, taking into account the guidelines issued by the Department of Health in the Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices, and having regard to The Health and Social Care Act 2008: ‘Code of Practice about the prevention and control of infections and related guidance’.
- Review the development needs of individual staff members at appropriate intervals and ensure an effective process is established for the on-going assessment and appraisal of all staff. The practice should ensure that there is a nominated lead for infection control at the practice.